Soccer By Ives

Kljestan and Shea replace Donovan, Torres and Chandler on USA roster

Sacha Kljestan and Brek Shea have been called in as emergency replacements for the U.S. men's national team after a rash of injuries and illness hit the roster originally called in by Jurgen Klinsmann.

Landon Donovan (bronchitis), Timmy Chandler and Jose Torres (both injured) will miss Wednesday's friendly against Italy, and have been replaced by Kljestan and Shea. A few days earlier, Jermaine Jones was forced to withdraw with an injury as well.

Klinsmann is expected to make at least one more addition to the roster he will field against Italy in Genoa on Wednesday, but the roster is already suffering from injuries to the likes of Oguchi Onyewu and Zak Whitbread, though Whitbread's return to action for Norwich City this past weekend could lead to a call-up for the match.

What do you think of these developments? Disappointed we still won't see a Donovan and Dempsey pairing for the national team until May at the earliest? Excited to see Kljestan get the call? Who are you hoping also gets a call on Monday?

Share your thoughts below.

Americans Abroad: Weekend Rewind

By FRANCO PANIZO

Days after his head coach cited a lack of progress as a reason for his benching, Jozy Altidore responded in a big way.

In his first start for AZ Alkmaar in 2012, Altidore bagged a brace in the club's 3-3 draw with Heerenveen. Altidore scored the game's opener when he received the ball with his back to goal, turned and fired a shot to the near post. He added his 13th of the season across all competitions in the second half by receiving a pass and slotting home a shot from 13 yards out. Altidore nearly completed a hat-trick, but a shot on a breakaway skimmed just wide.

Herculez Gomez also found the back of the net, opening his scoring account with Santos Laguna with a sublime header. The goal cut Santos' deficit against Chivas de Guadalajara to 2-1, and Gomez could have been the hero had he not missed a potential tying penalty kick in the waning moments of the match.

A third player got on his team's scoresheet this weekend as well. U.S. Under-23 men's national team midfielder Joe Corona scored his first goal of the Clausura campaign for Club Tijuana in their 1-1 draw with Toluca. Corona started and played 57 minutes in the game.

Here is how the Americans Abroad performed this weekend:

Italy names roster for USA friendly

Veteran playmaker Andrea Pirlo, legendary goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon and red-hot Juventus teammate Alessandro Matri headline the 23-man squad chosen by Italy to face the U.S. Men's National Team on Wednesday in Genoa.

Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli was left off the squad by Italy manager Cesar Prandelli, who still questions the star forward's maturity.

Here is Italy's roster for the USA match:

GOALKEEPERS: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Morgan De Sanctis (Napoli), Salvatore Sirigu (Paris Saint-Germain), Emiliano Viviano (Palermo).

DEFENDERS: Ignazio Abate (AC Milan), Davide Astori (Cagliari), Federico Balzaretti (Palermo), Andrea Barzagli (Juventus), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Domenico Criscito (Zenit St. Petersburg), Christian Maggio (Napoli), Angelo Ogbonna (Torino).

MIDFIELDERS: Daniele De Rossi (Roma), Claudio Marchisio (Juventus), Riccardo Montolivo (Fiorentina), Thiago Motta (Paris Saint-Germain), Antonio Nocerino (AC Milan), Andrea Pirlo (Juventus).

FORWARDS: Fabio Borini (Roma), Sebastian Giovinco (Parma), Alessandro Matri (Juventus), Giampaolo Pazzini (Inter Milan)

What do you think of this squad? Who are you hoping Jurgen Klinsmann turns to against Italy?

Share your thoughts below.

Must-See Goal: Cristiano Ronaldo

Real Madrid was able to hold off a feisty challenge from Rayo Vallecano on Sunday, and did so in large part to the clever goal from Cristiano Ronaldo, who converted a long-range back-heel to give Madrid a vital 1-0 road victory.

The victory helped keep Real Madrid ten points clear of Barcelona and keep Cristiano Ronaldo neck and neck with Lionel Messi for Spanish Primera Player of the Year honors.

Here is Ronaldo's golazo:

Must-See Goal: Lionel Messi

Barcelona was ten minutes away from dropping more precious points and making catching Real Madrid atop the Spanish Primera title even more impossible. Then Lionel Messi stepped up to save his team yet again.

The Argentine wizard delivered this perfect left-footed free kick to help Barcelona post a 2-1 victory over Atletico Madrid on Sunday. Here is the beautiful goal:

Soccer Sunday: Your Running Commentary

More than bragging rights in North London will be on the line at the Emirates today when Arsenal takes on Tottenham. For the Gunners, holding on to their precious top four place in the English Premier League standings will be at stake, while  Tottenham will be trying to solidify their hold on third place.

Chelsea's romp over Arsenal has pushed the Gunners to fifth place, and Arsene Wenger's side can't afford to drop many more points if they are going to be back in the Champions League next season. For Tottenham, a win at the Emirates would mean a ten-point cushion in third place and a chance to strike a brutal blow for their arch-rivals.

In Italy, red-hot Napoli takes on struggling Inter Milan in what should be one of the day's more entertaining clashes, while Spain will offer up the Atletico Madrid-Barcelona battle as Barca tries to keep hope alive of a miraculous comeback on first-place Real Madrid.

If you will be watching today's soccer action, please feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below.

Enjoy the action (Today's TV Schedule is after the jump):

Torres injured, looks doubtful for Italy friendly

U.S. national team midfielder Jose Torres has been out of U.S. national team action for months due to injury, but he was set to return to the fold against Italy next week. At least he was before suffering an injury on Saturday night that appears to have put his national team hopes on hold yet again.

Torres played 90 minutes in Pachuca's 1-1 draw against Tigres on Saturday night, but was forced to play the final 20 minutes with an injury due to the fact Pachuca had already used all three substitutions.

Reports out of Mexico have quoted Pachuca head coach Efrain Flores as saying Torres suffered an injury late in the match and looks unlikely to join the U.S. national team in Italy for Wednesday's friendly.

MLS Notes: Vancouver shuts out Montreal, Colorado signs Zapata, and more

By JOEY SAMUEL

In January, the Montreal Impact chose Andrew Wenger over Darren Mattocks for with the first pick in the MLS SuperDraft. On Friday night, Mattocks showed the Impact why they made have made a mistake.

Playing up top alongside the likes of Eric Hassli and Sebastien Le Toux, Mattocks scored the second goal of a 3-0 rout as the Vancouver Whitecaps defeated Montreal in one of two matches Friday night at the Disney Pro Soccer Classic in Orlando, Fla.

Hassli opened the scoring in the 38th minute when he one-timed a pass from defender Martin Bojour, sliding the ball past Montreal goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts. Mattocks extended Vancouver's lead in the 70th minute, taking a pass from Le Toux along the left side of the penalty area and finishing past Ricketts.

Le Toux rounded out the scoring with ten minutes remaining, scoring on a penalty kick after Long Tan had been fouled in the area.

It wasn't a perfect night for Vancouver, though, as both John Thorrington and Davide Chiumiento were forced to leave the field with injuries.

Here are some other stories from around Major League Soccer from Friday:

Soccer Saturday: Your Running Commentary

AC Milan is in first place in Serie A at the moment, but unbeaten Juventus can retake control of the Scudetto race with a win today when the squads clash in Milan in the day's top match-up.

Milan is the home team today, but will face a tough task against a Juve side that has yet to lose a match all year. The absence of suspended striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic and injured midfielder Kevin Prince-Boateng will make it tougher for Milan to stop Juventus, which will come in confident having already beaten Milan in league play as well as in Coppa Italia earlier this month.

In Mexico, first-place Tigres take on Pachuca in the league's top match of the day. Jose Torres will look to put together another classy performance before playing for the USA against Italy on Wednesday. Surprising side Club Tijuana could catapult up the Primera standings with a win against Toluca tonight.

If you will be watching today's action, please feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below.

Enjoy the action (Today's TV Schedule is after the jump): 

Duka, Shea and Agudelo lead U-23s past San Antonio

After a scoreless first half on Friday night, the U.S. Under-23 national team looked like it would be shut down by the San Antonio Scorpions. Things changed dramatically in the second half, as Dilly Duka, Juan Agudelo and Brek Shea helped lead the U-23s to a 3-0 romp.

Duka set up the opening goal and scored his own on a solo run to help the U-23s jump out to a 2-0 lead. Jack McInerney sealed the victory when he converted a Tony Taylor pass to complete the scoring.

Here are the match highlights: